Our communities have the opportunity to make their voices heard in the 13 days of Early Voting, in addition to November 6 itself. Between now and Election Day, there is no better way to fight back and protect our families than to go to the polls and voting.

Through our non-partisan New Americans Democracy Project (NADP) we have registered a record number of 26,498 new immigrant voters--58% in the City of Chicago and 42% in the suburbs. ICIRR will contact 159,885 Latino, Asian and Middle Eastern voters during Early Voting and on Election Day through door knocks, phone calls and mailings. The Latino and immigrant vote in Illinois and throughout the country has the potential to impact key races on the federal, state and municipal levels.

ICIRR’s NADP fellows have been working since June in Chicago's Little Village, Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, Back of the Yards, Gage Park, Logan Square, Brighton Park and McKinley Park, in nearby cities & suburbs: Cicero, Berwyn, Wheeling, Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Melrose Park, Stone Park, Schaumburg, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Waukegan, Mundelein, Round Lake, Highwood, Joliet and Bolingbrook, Elgin and Aurora to register voters. To date, we have registered 26,498 citizens to vote, the most that we have ever registered in one year. Why is this significant? According to the Chicago Tribune and the Sun Times, there is an enthusiasm gap this year, and the number of people registered in Chicago and Cook County have actually dropped overall. To register 26,498 people to vote in this climate is remarkable.

We will continue to mobilize the immigrant vote in Chicago and the suburbs, particularly in areas of Suburban Cook County and collar counties--Lake, Will, DuPage and Kane--where the immigrant population has grown significantly over the last decade.

In 2008, low-propensity voters contacted by ICIRR were twice as likely to vote as those who were not contacted by our organization.

WHEN DOES EARLY VOTING START?

For the November 6, 2012 Presidential General Election, Early Voting will take place from October 22 to November 3.

For citizens who qualified to vote in the general election but missed the voter registration deadline of October 9 can still register and vote. Every day through Saturday, November 3 voters may register in person and then immediately vote during the same visit. For more information please visit http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/registertovote/Pages/WhereandHowtoRegister.aspx

*EARLY VOTING FACTS:

No more excuses

Voters do not need to provide an excuse or reason why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day. You need only to fill out an application at the Early Voting site.

Bring photo ID

State law requires early voters to display valid photo identification to an election official before receiving a ballot to vote early. Valid forms of ID include: a current driver’s license, state-issued ID card, university/college ID or another government-issued ID with a photograph.

Voting equipment

Early Voting is conducted on touch screens that store every ballot style in the county, permitting any voter in suburban Cook to vote at any location.

Ballot secrecy

Your ballot will remain secret and securely stored.

Early Voting records

The names of the early voters are available to the public and are updated each day during Early Voting. Please call (312) 603-0900 for early voting information.